Bishop Barron on “Silence”

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The much-anticipated “Silence”, based upon the Shusaku Endo novel of the same name, is a worthy addition to the Scorsese oeuvre. It is marked by gorgeous cinematography, outstanding performances from both lead and supporting actors, a gripping narrative, and enough thematic complexity to keep you thinking for the foreseeable future. However, the "three cheers" most inspired by the film are not for the Hollywood greats but for the martyrs, crucified by the seaside.

Is anyone surprised that the same Jesuit pope who admitted “remarrried” Catholics to the sacraments also allowed SILENCE to debut at the Vatican? In both life and art, what masquerades as mercy is the exaltation of fleshly existence over spiritual life, of bios over zoe, of complex ambiguity over truth.

June 13, 2017

Charbel Nasr

Not a movie but a real life story, and no not in Japan this one is happening now in the US checkout http://jesusnot4sale.com

May 26, 2017

Margaret Zito

Sorry for my errors in my post I was using microphone and posted too quickly without checking it over first 😔

May 26, 2017

Margaret Zito

I enjoyed hearing father Barron's discourse on the movie silence. I agree with many things he said and understand what point he was making. However I felt one point she had missed is that the young priest at the end eventually denounced Christ was under the pressure if them being tortured when they had already denounced and their torture would not end until he denounced Christ. I guess my problem is should we let others suffer for our beliefs.

February 11, 2017

AJ B

Since the comparison is often being made to author Endo and Graham Greene I read the novel. Yes the most striking contrast is between the faithful, willing to die for their faith, and the idealistic priests who watch their sacrifice. An indictment perhaps of some clerical leaders who prefer to lead from safe positions? Over and over the priests wonder about the silence of God. What a tremendous lack of faith and understanding of suffering. Fr. Barron's point that the Japanese rulers showcased the apostasized priests because they wanted a fractured and splintered Christianity is off base. The purpose of showcasing any former believer is to show the utter lack of value in the former beliefs.

February 8, 2017

Jim Fogarty

Sorry, I did not see how to edit it before it was posted

February 8, 2017

Jim Fogarty

ouple of points that Bishop Barron did not mentions. The movie opens with the martyrdom of a group of priests, probably based on St. Paul Miki whose feast day was last Monday. Second, Fr. Rodrigues witnesses numerous martyrdoms and tortures including his companion Fr. Garpe being drowned trying to save martyrs who were bound and thrown into the ocean. The movie shows a priest doing exactly what Bishop Barron said he should do. Third Fr. Rodrigues grants reconciliation over and over to a Japanese apostate who betrayed him and was used as the symbol of Judas. According to Fr. Martin this Japanese apostate was martyred in the end. I also raised the question that the apostate may have been a plant to continually betray Rodrigues throughout the story. (Probably based on my working with gangs all these years.) Fourth, Bishop Barron says that Rodrigues was given stature after he apostates, but I thought he was a prisoner who was constantly being humiliated. Fifth, the question of whether the voice (of Jesus) was real, evil, or pyschological justification is a debatable point. I took the point to be that the priest decided to lay down his life and his soul for his flock. No greater love than this: to lay down ones life....

February 8, 2017

Jim Fogarty

I have seen the movie twice and read the book in between. The story fascinates me because I have been a missionary to street gangs in Chicago for 30 years and few have become Catholic.

February 7, 2017

John Lohrstorfer

Rodrigues comes face to face with what he thinks God is and what being a martyr is and following Christ's example as in Philipians 2 "He emptied himself and takes the form of a slave and becomes obedient even into death". Rodrigues must empty himself of all of his ideas and concepts dying to self so that Christ can live in him. He hears Chrust tell him "trample it was to be trampled on by men that I was born into this world it was to share men's pain that I carried my cross. "Later Rodrigues complains "Lord I resented your silence but Jesus replies I was not silent. I suffered beside you" ThomS Merton reminds us " Since nothing that can be heard is God to find him we must enter into silence." Rodrigues spends his remaining days under house arrest discovering the real God and living the Christ within him in all that he is and does and suffers but is obedient to God till death.

February 3, 2017

Barry Fitzpatrick

It has now been two weeks since I have seen this movie, and I cannot get it out of my mind. I also have a totally different take on it than Bishop Barron. I did not sense the movie glorifying one choice over another, and I believe it clearly avoided any "certainty" as to Rodrigues' ultimate decision in his personal faith life. I was most moved by the scene with Rodrigues and Ferreira, where Rodrigues, filled with emotion, confronts his mentor with what he sees as a wrong choice on the part of Ferreira. It is in that scene, that the emotional center of the film rests for me. Yes, I greatly admired the Japanese martyrs and found their faith exemplary. But I did not judge it as "better" than that of Rodrigues. I don't think the filmmaker judges Rodrigues' choice as better or exemplary either. I think the whole meaning of faith in a person's life is the crux of this film. I think we are shown a variety of "living outs" of that journey, that faith journey, and I think we are encouraged, not to take sides but to examine our own choices while holding them up to the tapestry of choices presented in the film. I even found Kichijiro a character, in the end, with whom I could relate in terms of my own spiritual and personal failures and the need for forgiveness. There is so much depth to this film, so much for us to mull over in our prayer. I found it a movie to be experienced, and I feel it still.

February 1, 2017

heidi keene

My comments keep posting mid post. (?) At any rate, Ignatius story today reminds us what faith-through grace looks like in the face of death. Chichichiro (the little man who kept apostatizing and repenting) is the key to understanding the film. He is a weak man, perhaps he was given the grace initially to witness but failed to cooperate. He was then reduced to such weakness that he (with consequent conscience each time) kept renouncing the faith. However, the priests-and especially the main character- despised him rather than have mercy on him. It was because of this pride that God let the priest fall into the worst denial (continual) of the faith. He finally accepted that he was more despicable that his apostatizing friend at the end of the movie. He thanks Chichichiro for being his friend. The story is a cautionary tale of religious pride masquerading as true faith. God let both prideful priests fall and it looks apparently like they were reprobate. Indeed, the main character has not truly apostatized because he refers to himself as "fallen priest" rather than deny the validity of orders. He is in Judas lineage no doubt. An amazing movie, and a very spiritually insightful story. -

February 1, 2017

heidi keene

Christ, then they would rejoice at a martyr

February 1, 2017

heidi keene

It seems to me that the movie (and book) is about how necessary humility is for grace to work in a soul. Many times through the show we were shown that the priests had "natural" eyes rather than supernatural. For instance, they repeatedly scarfed down food before giving thanks, they recoiled violently at the thought of death (their own or others). If they had believed- through grace- the promises of

January 31, 2017

Monifa Barrow-Wass

This movie challenges the viewer with difficult questions. Do we dare to consider that there might be a hidden vanity that can be covered by missionary zeal? Can this vanity be an egotistical obstacle that prevents us from acting with a sense of love for life? What does God's "silence" mean to a person who wants God to act and speak within their own pre-conceived narrative? There was a thought provoking depth to this movie.

January 25, 2017

Judith Horton

Interesting that the disciples who abandoned Jesus in his torture and death had to die martyrs' deaths but John, who underwent torture keeping the faith by His mother's side, underwent his own martrydom witnessing Jesus'.

January 23, 2017

Mary Haerr Gillum

I mused about the crucifix that we witnessed in the coffin and thought that his wife knew his heart and put it there with him!

January 23, 2017

Mary Haerr Gillum

I loved Silence. I wa deeply moved by the strong faith and commitment of the young Jesuit priests.

January 18, 2017

Kathleen Pratt

What am I messing, I was brought up Catholic and still am we were taught to strive to be like the saints how is this movie doing that! In history of the Church, many martyrs died for the Faith. Starting with Saint Stephen, they were the first to be remembered, venerated for their public witness and raised to the altars with the title of saint. There are also those who denied the Faith under pressure. They are forgotten and buried in the dark recesses of history.

January 17, 2017

John Hoehn

Yes, the movie homily preaches silent, fearful faith--and worse. The movie reminds me of the true history and ongoing reality of persecution. Donatism, Little Sisters of the Poor and beheaded Christians on a Libyan beach come to mind. How can we be so indifferent and inactive? How do we and are Church respond? I hope you can help us, Father. We need your deep and thorough teaching.

January 16, 2017

Leon Keller

I’d say the people who burred him probably put the crucifix in his hand for burial.

January 16, 2017

joan ,

"Be still and know" -trusting in this now more than ever

January 14, 2017

joan ,

Rodriguez, well, only God can read hearts and we trust in this. I believe fear is a real thing, no matter the vehicle, to control the Sacred Mystery of Faith.

January 13, 2017

Anne Matthews

Can you please rate your videos on Youtube.com so I view them? We keep our youtube.com on restricted mode and if videos are not rated we can't watch them. I'm not sure if one self rates or you have to submit it to Youtube.com for ratings.

January 13, 2017

joan ,

I'm thinking that seeing truth in this world is a painful thing, and persecution comes in many forms.

January 13, 2017

Adoration Servants

Thank you BIshop Barron for a accurate assessment. I just got out of the theater 30 minutes go. Anyone who has read St ALphonsus Liguori's "Victory of the Martyrs" will see that "inquisitors" are OK with apostates just going through the motions despite the strong warning of Jesus in this matter (Mat 10:33). I think the overall message of this movie to those lukewarm in their faith or with no faith at all will say this movie portrays and encourages the folly of the Cross as Paul described it in 1 Cor 1:18 For the word of the cross, to them indeed that perish, is foolishness; but to them that are saved, that is, to us, it is the power of God.